Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
Cascade Lakes Must See Tour
| Departure: | Drake Park, Oregon |
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| Destination: | Osprey Observation Point, Oregon |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
As you drive along the Cascades Lakes Scenic Byway, note the beautiful lakes, eleven in all that gives the road its name. There are lush meadows and historic sites to visit, as well as some short hiking trails.
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Start: Drake Park
Make sure to spend some time exploring the charming downtown Bend which includes beautiful Drake Park.
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Stop 2: Swampy Lakes
Directions from previous place: Drive southwest on NW Congress St toward NW Riverside Blvd, turn left onto NW Kansas Ave, right onto NW Wall St, then right onto NW Colorado Ave. After .4 miles, enter the next roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto SW Colorado Ave and then take the next roundabout and the 3rd exit onto SW Century Dr. Pass through 1 roundabout and drive for 13.8 miles. Turn left and drive for 1.5 miles before ending at Swampy Lakes.
Distance from Previous Site: 17.12 miles / 27.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 25 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Fifteen miles west of Bend on the Cascade Lakes Highway are hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing opportunities. From the trailhead at the north end of the parking lot, skiers or hikers can enjoy a variety of marked trails from 2 to 10 miles in length. The area provides five shelters that are usually stocked with wood in the winter.
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Stop 3: Mt. Bachelor Ski and Summer Resort
Directions from previous place: Drive southeast and drive for 1.5 miles before turning right and then right again onto Cascade Lakes Hwy. After 5.7 miles, end at Mt. Bachelor Ski Area.
Distance from Previous Site: 7.41 miles / 11.9 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 11 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Enormous Mt. Bachelor dominates the horizon of smaller peaks, and is one of the nation's best and most popular ski resorts. Great snow typically lasts through June. During summer, the Summit Express lift takes sightseers to the 9,065-foot peak. The dramatic 360-degree view overlooks a volcanic skyline stretching from California to Washington.
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Stop 4: Dutchman Flat
Directions from previous place: Drive southeast on Cascade Lakes Hwy then turn left and drive for .8 miles before ending at Dutchman Flat.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.97 miles / 1.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 2 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Just west of the entrance to Mt. Bachelor, a whole new scenic landscape beckons to be enjoyed and appreciated. By some quirk of nature, the small pumic desert, called Dutchman Flat, has not accumulated enough soil nutrients to sustain the growth of many plants. Pusspaws with pink blooms and sulfur flowers with yellow blooms are a few of the hardy plants that grow in this unique area. Take note of it as you pass by as this was where the movie, 'How the West was Won,' was filmed.
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Stop 5: Todd Lake
Directions from previous place: Drive northwest and then make a slight right. After 1.3 miles, end at Todd Lake.
Distance from Previous Site: 1.7 miles / 2.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 4 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours A short walk from the parking area, this picturesque, small lake is just the place for the visitor looking for a secluded tent camping area without the noise of traffic and motors.
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Stop 6: Green Lakes Trailhead
Directions from previous place: Drive northwest and then turn right onto NF-370 and continue for 3.9 miles. Turn left onto NF-380. After 1.8 miles, end at Green Lakes Trailhead.
Distance from Previous Site: 5.76 miles / 9.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 17 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes This trail is one of several access points into the Three Sisters Wilderness area. On this trail and other trails in Three Sisters, wildlife is running everywhere and can be seen in abundance along the trails. Most common on these trails are deer, the Golden-Mantled ground squirrel, and the noisy Clark's Nutcracker.
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End: Osprey Observation Point
Directions from previous place: Drive east on NF-380, after 1.8 miles, turn right onto NF-370. Continue driving for 3.9 miles and then turn left. After 1.4 miles, make another left, then three times more before making a right onto Cascades Lakes Hwy. Continue on the road for 3.1 miles before turning right onto NF-45. After 11.5 miles, turn left onto NF-40 and drive for 4 miles before turning right onto S. Century Drive. Drive for 3 miles before turning right onto CR-42 and drive for another 19.4 miles before making another right then a left to end at Osprey Observation Point.
Distance from Previous Site: 50.08 miles / 80.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 12 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes Constructed in 1929, it has become an outstanding fishing area and a breeding ground for the Osprey, identified as a potentially endangered species in 1969. From the parking lot, a short walk takes you to an observation area on the west side of the reservoir. Here you can view snags and artificial nesting poles inhabited by the birds. Many visitors are entertained as Osprey dive for fish from more than a hundred feet above the water.
